I am thrilled to be able to finally share the news that SYMPHONIC ROCKS is back!

Ard Matthews at Symphonic Rocks 2010

This is a friendly “heads up” that tickets will be going on sale from 09h00 tomorrow morning (Friday 15th July) at Computicket, and they are going to fly!!

The line-up of Artists this year is a mind-blowing mix of genres all sharing one thing in common – HUGE songs!

Enjoy the hit songs that you’ve come to know and love performed by your favourite Artists in a way they never have been before.. backed by the epic power of a full 65 piece Symphony Orchestra!

Spread the word and start making plans to book your seats today to avoid the disappointment shared by hundreds of people who weren’t able to get tickets last year.. and if you are based in, or have friend & family in Gauteng, tell them to get down to the Jozi show.

For those who weren’t able to make last year’s show, attached is a short teaser video of what you missed.. and 2011 is going to be even bigger and better!

Popular demand sees Symphonic Rocks expanding into Johannesburg in 2011

The first-ever Symphonic Rocks in Cape Town in 2010 was a runaway success – and now this superbly entertaining mixture of contemporary and classical music extends its reach in 2011 with shows in both the Mother City and Johannesburg.

Presented by Heineken® in association with 5FM, this year’s Symphonic Rocks feature a cross-genre mix (from rock to pop, adult contemporary, R&B, hip hop and electro) of some of South Africa’s most popular artists. These include the impressively versatile Arno Carstens, R&B star, Loyiso, Ard Matthews of Just Jinjer, popular rock outfits CrashCarBurn and Zebra and Giraffe, critically acclaimed hip-hop outfit, Tumi & The Volume and Cape Town’s Flat Stanley. The country’s top-selling group of 2010, Locnville, will be part of the Symphonic Rocks Johannesburg’s line-up as will Freshlyground’s extraordinary vocalist, Zolani Mahola.

Symphonic Rocks is the brainchild of Flat Stanley’s frontman, Andy Mac who innovated the event in 2010. Last year saw Just Jinjer, Louise Carver, Watershed, aKING& Gang of Instrumentals playing their best known and loved songs together with a 65-piece symphony orchestra.

The concert was an unprecedented success, selling out and stimulating demand for Symphonic Rocks presented by Heineken® in association with 5FM in other cities.

Mac, who had been dreaming up and planning the event for six years, was overwhelmed at the response to the first Symphonic Rocks and is buzzed about what lies in store for music fans this year.

“Last year it was incredible to see the collaborative process at work between the pop and rock musicians and their classical counterparts,” Mac says. “The many months of work that goes into scoring the orchestral arrangements for all the Artists is pretty intense, but witnessing the audience and Artists themselves experiencing these songs in a way they never have before is worth every ounce of effort!”

Ashley Poezyn-Small, Marketing Manager at Heineken®, says the event is part of Heineken®’s belief in bringing unexpected live music experiences to consumers. “Heineken® understands the human instinct for sharing in unique premium events that really live up to their promise of being memorable,” says Poezyn-Small.

“Heineken® is proud to offer this to music fans of all genres – not only Cape Town but this year also in Johannesburg.”

With a line-up of chart-topping and acclaimed artists, together with the incredible talents of the symphony orchestra, and an ice-cold Heineken® within easy reach, Symphonic Rocks presented by Heineken® in association with 5FM has all the makings of being the musical highlight of the year.

Tickets cost R225 in Cape Town and R225, R250 and R275 in Joburg and booking is open at Computicket. Capacity at each of the venues is limited so fans are advised to book in advance.